diff --git a/numpy/core/src/multiarray/ctors.c b/numpy/core/src/multiarray/ctors.c
index e23cbe3c9db2..2b8c35234304 100644
--- a/numpy/core/src/multiarray/ctors.c
+++ b/numpy/core/src/multiarray/ctors.c
@@ -1926,14 +1926,34 @@ PyArray_FromArray(PyArrayObject *arr, PyArray_Descr *newtype, int flags)
     /* Raise an error if the casting rule isn't followed */
     if (!PyArray_CanCastArrayTo(arr, newtype, casting)) {
         PyObject *errmsg;
+        PyArray_Descr *arr_descr = NULL;
+        PyObject *arr_descr_repr = NULL;
+        PyObject *newtype_repr = NULL;
 
+        PyErr_Clear();
         errmsg = PyUString_FromString("Cannot cast array data from ");
-        PyUString_ConcatAndDel(&errmsg,
-                PyObject_Repr((PyObject *)PyArray_DESCR(arr)));
+        arr_descr = PyArray_DESCR(arr);
+        if (arr_descr == NULL) {
+            Py_DECREF(newtype);
+            Py_DECREF(errmsg);
+            return NULL;
+        }
+        arr_descr_repr = PyObject_Repr((PyObject *)arr_descr);
+        if (arr_descr_repr == NULL) {
+            Py_DECREF(newtype);
+            Py_DECREF(errmsg);
+            return NULL;
+        }
+        PyUString_ConcatAndDel(&errmsg, arr_descr_repr);
         PyUString_ConcatAndDel(&errmsg,
                 PyUString_FromString(" to "));
-        PyUString_ConcatAndDel(&errmsg,
-                PyObject_Repr((PyObject *)newtype));
+        newtype_repr = PyObject_Repr((PyObject *)newtype);
+        if (newtype_repr == NULL) {
+            Py_DECREF(newtype);
+            Py_DECREF(errmsg);
+            return NULL;
+        }
+        PyUString_ConcatAndDel(&errmsg, newtype_repr);
         PyUString_ConcatAndDel(&errmsg,
                 PyUString_FromFormat(" according to the rule %s",
                         npy_casting_to_string(casting)));
diff --git a/numpy/core/tests/test_multiarray.py b/numpy/core/tests/test_multiarray.py
index 04e09d37fea0..c9e610cbff12 100644
--- a/numpy/core/tests/test_multiarray.py
+++ b/numpy/core/tests/test_multiarray.py
@@ -2041,6 +2041,13 @@ def __numpy_ufunc__(self, ufunc, method, pos, inputs, **kwargs):
         assert_raises(TypeError, np.dot, b, c)
         assert_raises(TypeError, c.dot, b)
 
+    def test_dot_type_mismatch(self):
+        c = 1.
+        A = np.array((1,1), dtype='i,i')
+
+        assert_raises(ValueError, np.dot, c, A)
+        assert_raises(TypeError, np.dot, A, c)
+
     def test_diagonal(self):
         a = np.arange(12).reshape((3, 4))
         assert_equal(a.diagonal(), [0, 5, 10])
@@ -4825,6 +4832,13 @@ def test_matmul_inplace():
 
 class TestInner(TestCase):
 
+    def test_inner_type_mismatch(self):
+        c = 1.
+        A = np.array((1,1), dtype='i,i')
+
+        assert_raises(TypeError, np.inner, c, A)
+        assert_raises(TypeError, np.inner, A, c)
+
     def test_inner_scalar_and_vector(self):
         for dt in np.typecodes['AllInteger'] + np.typecodes['AllFloat'] + '?':
             sca = np.array(3, dtype=dt)[()]